Truck towing toy hauler rolls on I-15; creates miles-long traffic jam

Traffic is backed up for miles after a Chevrolet Silverado towing a trailer rolled on Interstate 15, Iron County, Utah, March 24, 2017 | Reader-submitted photo, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A man driving a pickup truck reportedly lost control of a trailer he was towing on Interstate 15, causing the truck to roll and resulting in severely slowed traffic Friday afternoon.

Emergency personnel respond after a Chevrolet Silverado towing a trailer rolled on Interstate 15, Iron County, Utah, March 24, 2017 | Reader-submitted photo, St. George News

Utah Highway Patrol was dispatched to the scene of the rollover involving a Chevrolet Silverado at approximately 2:57 p.m. near milepost 63 on southbound Interstate 15.

“We have a witness that says the pickup truck with a toy hauler was doing about 80, went to go around another vehicle and lost control of his trailer, and that caused him to roll his truck,” Utah Highway Patrol Adam Gibbs said.

Also in the truck with the driver at the time of the rollover were his wife and children.

Although no injuries were reported at the scene, the entire family was transported by Gold Cross Ambulance service to the hospital out of precaution.

“The truck rolled completely and flipped to its side,” Gibbs said.

The Chevy and its rolled trailer ended up blocking the roadway, causing a severe slowdown and backup of traffic.

“The traffic was backed up clear to the Summit exit,” Gibbs said.

Traffic is backed up for miles after a Chevrolet Silverado towing a trailer rolled on Interstate 15, Iron County, Utah, March 24, 2017 | Reader-submitted photo, St. George News

One lane of traffic remained open through which the bottlenecked traffic slowly moved.

By 4:15 p.m., the other lane was opened, but traffic was still slow-going due to miles of backed up vehicles.

The truck and trailer were badly damaged and had to be towed away.

Any citation is pending until the driver receives treatment and further investigation is conducted, Gibbs said.

Deputies from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist; Enoch City Police arrived to help conduct traffic and Cedar City Fire helped with cleanup.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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15 Comments

  • utahdiablo March 24, 2017 at 9:46 pm

    Towing a trailer, doing 80, passing, oh yeah… Udot / UHP, what could ever go wrong….heck let’s show ’em, raise the speed limit to 85!

    • comments March 25, 2017 at 12:35 am

      Better yet, we abolish all speed limits and let folks drive how fast they want. We’ll paint over all the speed limit signs, and instead of showing the speed limit they’ll read “TRUST IN THE LORD”

  • JJODL March 25, 2017 at 3:44 pm

    I didn’t realize the speed limit meant I had to go that fast. (turning sarcasm off now)

    Why is this UDOT’s or UHP’s fault? It is no different than someone traveling the speed limit on snow packed or icy or wet roads. It is the driver’s responsibility to drive at a safe speed.

    • comments March 25, 2017 at 6:24 pm

      I wonder if this opinion would stay the same if you had someone killed by a semi going 85mph or a large truck with a “toy hauler” doing 85. When it was 75mph everyone already went 80+. Now with 80 everone goes 85+. Can’t fix stupid, but u can make stupid illegal with responsible speed limits. 85+ w/ a toy hauler is stupid in any weather, and the state for allowing it.

      • User3 March 26, 2017 at 1:57 pm

        Again before you start calling people stupid maybe you should get your facts straight. You were not there you do not know what truly happened. Maybe be a little considerate for the people involved.

        • comments March 26, 2017 at 4:34 pm

          The trend is 85mph. I see plenty of these idiots in big pickups blasting down I-15 with these huge 5th wheels and toy haulers at 85mph+. These are idiots. End of story.

    • User3 March 25, 2017 at 9:59 pm

      Maybe before you all jump to conclusions or start pointing fingers maybe you should get your facts straight. Were you there??

  • User3 March 25, 2017 at 7:25 pm

    Maybe before you all jump to conclusions or start pointing fingers maybe you should get your facts straight. We’re you there??

    • comments March 26, 2017 at 4:38 pm

      another one of dumpster’s many aliases?

    • comments March 26, 2017 at 4:39 pm

      I put u on ignore. no worry

  • User3 March 27, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    You guys are ridiculous. Maybe instead of concerning yourselves about the negative maybe look at the family and that as far as we know where not seriously hurt. Then maybe look that there might be more to story than what a reporter wrote who was not even there.

    • comments March 28, 2017 at 10:32 pm

      mistakes happen. glad that no one died. a hard lesson learned. /end story

  • Private March 31, 2017 at 11:39 pm

    I know the family involved and the accident had nothing to do with speed. They were going the speed limit or less and the same thing could have happened at 65 mph. So why don’t you get your facts straight and have a little consideration towards the family. They have already been through enough.

    • comments April 1, 2017 at 1:25 pm

      absolutely dead-ass wrong. its far easier to recover from an error at lower speeds, esp with a trailer. you are nonsense.

      and repeat: mistakes happen. glad that no one died. a hard lesson learned. /end story

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